College credit plus modality and future matriculation of high school students in Ohio

Abstract

College Credit Plus (CCP) is a dual enrollment program allowing high school students to obtain both high school credit and college credit by participating in college courses at a local higher education institution. CCP courses can be taken at a college or university, at the student's high school, or online. This research seeks to find if CCP course modality affects future matriculation to the same university following high school. The population of CCP student data was a historical sample collected from the spring semester of 2018 to avoid the influence of COVID‐19 on attendance. Data on the location of CCP courses that the student was enrolled in and whether the student chose to attend the university beyond high school were collected. Chi‐square and the post hoc test, Cramer's V, were used to analyze the data, resulting in a significant association between CCP course modality and future university matriculation. CCP student proximity and familiarity with the university campus may influence the choice to remain at the same institution after high school graduation. These findings can be used to direct further CCP research with a wider scope.Practical Takeaways Students who complete College Credit Plus courses on the postsecondary campus, rather than at their high school or online, are more likely to matriculate to that same institution after high school graduation. This may be a result of success on the university campus, interactions and relationships with faculty and staff, and peer relationships. More research is needed on other factors influencing CCP student matriculation after high school, such as proximity to campus, GPA, student activities and involvement, number of credits completed, and successful courses.